150 killed in accidents in M’laya in 2016

SHILLONG: As many as 150 persons were killed in Meghalaya last year due to road accidents.
In reply to a call attention moved by UDP’s Jemino Mawthoh, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma informed the Assembly on Friday that out of the 620 injured in accidents last year, 162 suffered grievous injuries and 192 minor injuries.
He admitted that in Meghalaya, road accidents are a major cause of deaths and injuries.
The chief minister said highway patrol vehicles are pressed into service in districts having highways to check on rash, negligent and drunken driving.
He said black spots, pot holes and dangerous spots on road susceptible to accidents have been identified in the entire State by the joint efforts of police and PWD.
The PWD took remedial measures to render the road free of these black spots and the matter was also brought to the notice of the State Road Safety Council, the chief minister said.
Counselling sessions were given to traffic violators in pursuance to the Supreme Court directives.
In East Khasi Hills, 601 violators were counselled with effect from January 28, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and in Tura, three counselling sessions were held during 2015-16.
Over Rs 6 crore fine
The government also imposed a fine of Rs 6.30 crore for the last five years since 2012-13 for traffic violations.
The fine collected from East Khasi Hills is Rs 3,76,50,900 followed by Ri Bhoi (Rs 92,73,240).